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1st Battalion War Diary October 1944 - Worcestershire Regiment

1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment - War Diary October 1944
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October 1944			Commanding Officer: Lieut.-Colonel R. E. Osborne-Smith
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
ZETTEN	1		Bn. H.Q. at ZETTEN & ANDELST Station. Whilst Bn awaiting relief orders further instructions were received and unit moved to OOSTERHOUT as reserve Bn. - there being an enemy threat on the right. Bn. returned to original location later.
	2		Bn in ZETTEN - quiet day.
	3		Bn still awaiting relief when orders were received to relieve 4 Wilts at 6869 (about 2 miles East of VALBURG).
	3	20.00	Relief completed. Bn was in reserve and spent a fairly quiet day. The Dutch wife of an S.S. Officer was picked up and evacuated from a building in the Bn area.
	4		Bn still in area 6869.
6869	5		Orders received that Bn would move to rest area BEUNINGEN the following day.
	6	09.00	Recce Party left and Bn established in new area at 17.00 hrs. During the crossing of the Pontoon bridge at NIJMEGEN several salvos of shells were directed at the bridge. There were no casualties and bridge was not damaged.
BEUNINGEN	7		Bn. resting and reorganising.
	8		Orders received that Bn would relieve 2 Warwicks in area South of MOOK - 7251.
	9		Relief of 2 Warwicks. Bn. H.Q. 735513.
	10		Much Arty stonking. Much patrolling by Coys.
	11		Two P.W. taken. Much patrolling by Coys.
	12		Three P.W. taken. Much patrolling by Coys.
	13		Bn relieved by 5 Wilts and moved to MOOK (in reserve).
MOOK	14		48 hrs Leave to Brussels commenced.
	15		Voluntary Church Parades - Mobile Baths.
	16		ENSA Concerts and Cinema Shows.
	17	01.00	Tank Demonstration attended by Officers.
	17	10.00	"R" Gp left to Recce posns of 7 Hamps.
	18		Bn relieved 7 Hamps commencing 14.00 hrs.
744537	18		Bn. H.Q. 744537. Role: Counter Attack. Two Contact Patrols at night.
	19		Recce made of new area (Interchange of posns with 5 DCLI).	Appendix "A"
754538	20		Change over with 5 DCLI. Bn. H.Q. at 754538. Patrolling at night.	Appendix "B"
	21		Enemy Arty and Mortars active during day and night.
	21	19.15	"Mad Minute" shoot by all small arms. Patrolling at night.
	22		"D" Coy posns stonked at night by accurate mortar fire. Patrolling at night.
	23		Quiet day. Patrolling at night.
	24		Enemy Arty & Mortar active. Patrolling at night.
	25		Bn. relieved by 7 Som. L.I. during night 25/26.	Appendix "C"
744537 (GROESBEEK area)	25		Relief commenced 16.30 hrs and completed by 22.40 hrs.
	25		Bn. returned to area 744537 - Role: Counter-Attack for two forward Bns of Bde. Patrolling at night.
	26		Patrols at night. Op. Inst. No. 1 issued (Relief of 214 Bde by 129 Bde).	Appendix "D"
	27		C.O. and Sigs. Officer Recce new Bn Area. Patrols at night.
	28	15.00	Bn. relieved by 4 Wilts and settled in new area by 17.00 hrs.
719527	28		Bn. H.Q. at 719527
	29		Voluntary Church Parade. Cinema Shows and Bath Parades.
	30		Cinema Shows and Bath Parades.
	31		Instr. received that Bn would move to CUIJK (still in reserve). Movement completed by 17.30 hrs.
			Field Returns d/d 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.
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